The room fell into a dead silence. The air was thick enough to choke on.
"Marry you?"
Gu Chen repeated the words slowly, as if tasting a new, strange wine. He didn't get angry. Instead, a faint, mocking smile touched his lips. It was more terrifying than his anger.
He suddenly reached out.
His large hand wrapped around Lin Yu's slender neck. He didn't squeeze hard enough to kill, but the threat was undeniable. His thumb brushed against Lin Yu's pulse point, feeling the steady beat beneath the skin.
"You have guts," Gu Chen said, leaning closer until their noses almost touched. "Do you know how many people try to climb into my bed every year? Do you know where they end up?"
"I don't care about others," Lin Yu replied. He didn't flinch. He didn't retreat. He looked straight into those abyssal eyes. "I am not them. I am the one who just saved your company millions of dollars by identifying a traitor. Isn't that enough for an entrance ticket?"
Gu Chen stared at him. The young man in his grasp was trembling slightly—not from fear, but from adrenaline. His eyes were clear, ambitious, and burning with a fire that Gu Chen rarely saw.
It was... stimulating.
Suddenly, Gu Chen's phone on the table buzzed, breaking the tension.
Gu Chen glanced at the screen. The caller ID read: "Grandfather."
His expression turned dark instantly. He released Lin Yu and picked up the phone.
"What is it?" Gu Chen's voice was cold.
"You unfilial brat!" An old, angry voice roared from the speaker, loud enough for Lin Yu to hear. "Tonight! The daughter of the Wang family is waiting for you at the Marriott Hotel. If you don't go, don't blame me for freezing your personal assets! You are thirty years old! The Gu family needs an heir, or at least a partner!"
Gu Chen rubbed his temples, his patience wearing thin. "I told you, I have no interest in those plastic dolls you choose."
"Then bring someone home! Anyone! Male or female, I don't care! Just prove to me you aren't planning to die alone with your money!"
Click. The old man hung up.
Gu Chen stood there for a moment, the annoyance radiating from him in waves.
Then, he turned slowly to look at Lin Yu again. His gaze was calculating, like a merchant assessing goods.
Lin Yu knew his chance had come. He straightened his collar, smiling elegantly.
"It seems you need a shield, President Gu," Lin Yu said smoothly. "The Wang family is annoying, but I am not. I am sensible, obedient in public, and I won't pester you for love. I am the perfect solution to your grandfather's problem."
Gu Chen walked over to the window, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag. The smoke blurred his sharp features.
"Three rules," Gu Chen suddenly said.
Lin Yu's heart skipped a beat. He knew he had won. "I'm listening."
"One," Gu Chen turned around, pointing the cigarette at him. "We will not share a bed. Don't expect me to touch you."
"Deal," Lin Yu agreed instantly. (In his heart, he thought: We'll see about that in the future.)
"Two. You do not interfere with my business decisions. You are a decoration. A mascot. Your job is to deal with my family and block those annoying suitors."
"Understood. I'm a professional actor. Playing the role of a 'doting partner' is my specialty."
"Three," Gu Chen walked closer, his tall figure casting a shadow over Lin Yu. He exhaled a cloud of smoke, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "If you betray me... if you ever lie to me like that spy did... I will make you wish you were never born."
Lin Yu smiled. He extended his hand. "I would never betray my biggest investor, Mr. Gu."
Gu Chen looked at the slender, fair hand. After a second of hesitation, he reached out and shook it.
His palm was rough, hot, and powerful. The moment their skin touched, a strange electric current seemed to zap through both of them.
Gu Chen frowned slightly, pulling his hand back quickly.
"Let's go," Gu Chen said, grabbing his suit jacket.
"Go where?" Lin Yu blinked. "It's almost midnight."
"To get the certificate," Gu Chen checked his watch. "I know the director of the Civil Affairs Bureau. He can open the back door for us."
He looked at Lin Yu, a smirk finally appearing on his face.
"You wanted to marry me? Fine. We do it now. Before I change my mind."
Lin Yu stood stunned for a second. This pace... was even faster than he expected. The Tyrant of the Capital really didn't waste time.
"Coming, honey?" Gu Chen called out from the door, his tone mocking.
Lin Yu took a deep breath. He clenched his fists to stop them from shaking.
The game had begun.
"Coming, dear," Lin Yu replied, following the man out into the night.